The Company
PHARMALEADS is a biotechnology and medicinal chemistry Company specializing in enzyme detection and/or inhibition. PHARMALEADS designs and develops substrates for these enzymes using proprietary (such as Fluofast®) and generic techniques. Among all enzymes, PHARMALEADS has developed a world-class know-how on metalloproteases. Metalloproteases are involved in the physiopathology of major diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer, Pain, or Botulism...
PHARMALEADS’ activities, more than 20 years of research by Professors Bernard P. Roques and Marie-Claude Fournié-Zaluski, two scientists of worldwide renown in chemistry, pharmacology and medicinal chemistry, are divided into two branches, namely drug development and reagents.
PHARMALEADS’ main activity is the design, synthesis and early development of small molecules. It has a world-class franchise in the physiology and pharmacology of pain. Our lead compound, currently in clinical Phase I, is a dual inhibitor of the enzymes responsible for enkephalin inactivation. This innovative drug acts as a “physiological” painkiller by protecting the enkephalins from inactivation thus increasing their life span. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated on numerous mouse and rat models of neuropathic pain. An exclusive license has been granted to the Swiss company Debiopharm.
In the field of pain, PHARMALEADS is currently working on new families of chemical compounds, targeting other types of pain and routes of administration. As a specialist in enzyme inhibition, PHARMALEADS is also developing other enzyme inhibitors to be used in different indications. PHARMALEADS’ recent history has proved its ability to carry out and expedite early development. Some interesting outcomes of our R&D should be available within the next 3 to 5 years.
Regarding reagents, PHARMALEADS is offering to the pharmaceutical industry, as off-the-shelf products, high performance substrates for metalloproteases and phosphatases in HTS applications. Thanks to proprietary technologies and know-how (Fluofast®), Pharmaleads is able, on request, to design custom substrates or selective inhibitors for proteases.
PHARMALEADS has also developed highly specific substrates (PL50, PL51 and PL150) for Botulinum toxins A and B assays. Their use by toxin manufacturers to quantify toxin preparation avoid, or at least limit the use of mice tests during the production process of toxin vials. It also drastically increases the precision and sensitivity of the measurement of botulinum toxins concentrations. These substrates are available as off-the-shelf products or through technology licence agreements. Using the same substrates Pharmaleads has developed field test kits (EzyBot® A & B) designed for routine field control of raw or drinking water. Their very low detection threshold, high sensitivity and their robustness make them ideally suited to implement a permanent protection of the populations from the risk of poisoning by botulinum toxins that could occur during bioterrorism events.
